Afghanistan: US will end troop withdrawal despite ISIS or ISK attacks, Biden says
Afghanistan: The United States will withdraw its troops despite the attack
CNN reported on Friday (August 26th), citing Afghan health ministry officials, that 13 of the 170 people killed were US troops and three British nationals.
The New York Times reports that the death toll has risen to 160, excluding 13 U.S. troops.
US President Joe Biden has said that despite the jihadist attacks in Afghanistan, the evacuation of people from Kabul by US planes will continue.
The attack killed more than 90 people, including 13 U.S. military personnel.
"We have to complete this campaign and we will do it," he said. Biden. He also promised to identify the attackers.
More than 100,000 people have been evacuated since Kabul fell to the Taliban on August 15.
The United States has set a deadline of August 31 for the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, but many Afghans are rushing to the airport to leave the country within that time.
Mr. "We will not back down because of the terrorists," Biden said, promising to complete the operation.
The bomber struck shortly after 8 a.m. local time on Thursday.
The first attack targeted the Abbey Gate - where US and British forces were completing the process of allowing locals to enter the airport. Later the shelling started there.
The second blast occurred minutes later at a hotel, where British officials were carrying out various official procedures for Afghans hoping to travel to Britain.
US and UK officials have previously warned that IS, a regional branch of the Islamic State (also known as the Islamic State of Khorasan Province), could carry out suicide attacks.
Despite the warnings, scores of people gathered in the area, hoping to get approval to leave Afghanistan on a single flight.
This jihadist group later claimed responsibility for the bombing.
President Biden said: "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will find you and you will have to pay the ultimate price."
The dead included 11 Marines and a Navy physician, said Gen. Frank McKenzie, chief of the U.S. Central Command.
This is the first US military casualty in Afghanistan since February 2020.
General McKenzie said there was still a threat of a major attack from ISIS. US forces are working with the Taliban to stop such attacks, and the Taliban have already thwarted many attacks.
But because of the attack, the withdrawal of Americans by the August 31 deadline has become more complicated.
There are currently 5,600 US troops and another 1,000 British troops on the ground at Kabul airport.
Several countries, including Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark
One hundred and four thousand civilians have been evacuated from Afghanistan so far. Of these, 6,000 have been sent to the United States and 37,000 to various allies and partner countries.
About 5,000 people are still waiting at the airport and many more are trying to cross the checkpoint.
Several countries have already suspended their activities, including Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Turkey has announced that it will withdraw its troops - they have been providing security at the airport for six years.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson presided over a meeting with senior officials on Thursday to discuss the crisis.
He told the meeting that the UK would continue its evacuation flights.
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